If you cast your ballot on Election Day, there’s a strong chance are you did it in a school or other public building. Schools and churches in the Mountain State are the most common locations for setting up polling places. And it’s been that way for a long time.

If you cast your ballot on Election Day, there’s a strong chance are you did it in a school or other public building. Schools and churches in the Mountain State are the most common locations for setting up polling places. And it’s been that way for a long time.

West Virginia voters will pick from among three candidates — Republican J.B. McCuskey, Democrat Mary Ann Claytor and Libertarian Brenton Ricketts — when they cast their ballots for the office of state auditor Nov. 8.

West Virginia voters will pick from among three candidates — Republican J.B. McCuskey, Democrat Mary Ann Claytor and Libertarian Brenton Ricketts — when they cast their ballots for the office of state auditor Nov. 8.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is responsible for monitoring and regulating meat and poultry production in the state, monitoring and protecting crops and aspects of the state’s food supply, training farmers, promoting agriculture and coming up with new agricultural programs for the state.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is responsible for monitoring and regulating meat and poultry production in the state, monitoring and protecting crops and aspects of the state’s food supply, training farmers, promoting agriculture and coming up with new agricultural programs for the state.

The high school graduation rate in West Virginia continues to increase and is close to 90 percent, according to data released Oct. 25 by State Superintendent of Schools Michael Martirano.

The high school graduation rate in West Virginia continues to increase and is close to 90 percent, according to data released Oct. 25 by State Superintendent of Schools Michael Martirano.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller on Aug. 1 introduced his third bill this
year to protect the health and benefits of coal miners.

The most recent effort is the Black Lung Health Improvements
Act of 2013. According to Rockefeller's office, the proposed law would help
prevent black lung disease by:

Proposing new respirable coal dust standards for those
already suffering so their exposure to black lung-causing substances is reduced

Increasing miners' access to their health records in the
black lung claims process

Making it easier for miners to access legal representation
when operators refuse to provide benefits

Creating new grants for research into the disease; making it
easier for long-time miners and their families to collect black lung benefits

Requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to
study ways to make the application process for black lung disability claims
easier for miners to navigate, among other provisions

"There was a time when we all thought Black Lung was going
to become eradicated. That it was a relic of a more dangerous time for our coal
miners. Tragically, that was wrong.
After years of decline, Black Lung cases are rising again in a new
generation of miners. We can't let this happen," Rockefeller said in a news
release.

"This bill is an important next step in our ongoing fight
for miners' health and safety. But it is not, and should not be the end of
Congressional action on Black Lung," Rockefeller added. "These men and women
have one of the hardest and most challenging jobs on the planet. It's a job
that requires strength, dedication and courage – and it's a job that should be
met with access to the best health support we can provide."

Rockefeller introduced at least two other mine-related bills
this year. The Coalfield Accountability and Retired Employee (CARE) Act, which
he introduced in March, would protect benefits for thousands of retired miners
whose livelihoods are in jeopardy as Patriot Coal tries to shed its pension and
health care obligations in bankruptcy court. In April, he re-introduced an
updated version of his comprehensive mine safety legislation, the Robert C.
Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act, aimed at fixing the glaring
safety problems revealed in the wake of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster.